Computer Won't Boot Properly - Please Help

Windows XP SP2


Okay I was doing nothing out of the ordinary last night and suddenly My screen splashes white... I do a hard reboot and when my computer reboots, everything boots normally until it gets to the part where it logs into my account and brings up my desktop. The desktop splashes on and off, some of the icons are distorted and the task bar doesn't display properly. My monitor literally flickers on and off a few seconds at a time....

I've tested my brother's monitor so I know it's not the monitor.

I'm up to date with anti-malware programs so I don't think any type of malware is responsible (Avast, Sygate Firewall, Spyware Blaster, Spybot S&D, Windows Updates, Firefox, etc)

I want to say it's either some sort of software problem or a graphics card problem. Before I run out and buy a new graphics card I want to make sure it's not a software problem.

I have not tried booting into safe mode yet. I do use ERUNT and I have saved copies of my registry both saved on my C Drive and in my Windows Folder. I'm wondering If I should try to boot into safe mode and load the last good copy of my registry that I saved... This won't cause me to lose everything on my hard drive will it?

Any help you guys can provide me with is greatly appreciated. If there's anything I left out please let me know.

 

just to update you... SAFE MODE works fine....

I'm currently copying all my music files into a portable hard drive for safe keeping (something I planned on doing this weekend before this little mishap)

Should I use ERUNT and load the last known good copy of my registry?


I've run Spybot & Adaware, nothing found, Hijack this appears normal except from a crap load of Roboform entries... and There are no unusual programs in Startup or Add/Remove programs....

 

If things look fine in Safe mode, then It's most likely a drivers problem. Try unloading your vido drivers and then reinstalling them. What type of Video card is this? You may need to run Driver Cleaner. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3214.html

 

Okay my video card is 128 MB Geforce 4 TI4400

I've got a certain version Detonator drivers that work well with the card, 40.48's (I believe).

I will try reloading the video drivers... If that doesn't work, do you recommend i revert back to my old registry?
Can I install and run the driver cleaner in safe mode?

Thanks for your help btw, I appreciate it.

 

Alright Shadow thanks for your help so far...

It's definitely an issue with my drivers....

Once I uninstall them I'm able to boot to my desktop in normal mode with no errors or problems...

I ran the driver cleaner as instructed (read the readme), and after booting into normal mode and re-installing my drivers, I get the same problem upon rebooting into normal mode...

I'm using 40.72 detonator drivers... My card is an older one so those drivers work best for me... Should I maybe try a slightly later driver version?

I'm not sure why things aren't working when I reinstall them....

I'm disabling AV while reinstalling... Not sure what's up.... but glad we've localized hte problem to my video drivers....

 

I've given it a second try... Everytime I reboot with the drivers installed I get the same problem I initially had.... Not sure where to go from here....

Do you know where I can find old detonator drivers? Maybe I should try the 40.88's?

Right now I'm just looking at my desktop, with internet access, but have no drivers installed...

 

You can try the Nvidia site to locate older drivers for your card.

 

Seems like the main site only has the newest drivers...

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html

So is it pretty safe to say this is a driver issue? Comp boots without the drivers loaded... I've been reinstalling them with my old download file...

Does anyone know a credible site to get old Nvidia drivers?

 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp-2k_archive.html

try the link above might be closer to what you need
good luck dude

 

I think there is an option within msconfig to boot without your video card.

Taken from a MS site-
Boot.ini tab-
/basevideo
The /basevideo switch forces the system into standard 640x480 16-color VGA mode by using a video driver that is compatible with any video adapter. This switch permits the system to load if you selected the wrong video resolution or refresh rate. Use this switch in conjunction with the /sos switch. If you install a new video driver, and it does not work correctly, you can use this parameter to start the operating system. You can then remove, update, or roll back the problem video driver.

 

Okay guys I installed different (newer) drivers and I still have the same problem... Screen will not load correctly and the monitor will intermittently flicker on and off....

You'd think if it were just a driver issue that the computer would boot with new drivers... I've used the cleansing tool....

Only thing I can think of now would be to load an old registry?

What that be wise at this time?

I didn't make any significant changes to my computer that would have caused the onset to these problems so I'm really stumped here.... Does it have to be a driver issue since the computer desktop loads fine without graphics drivers installed?

Should I start a new thread in the driver forum?

 

Okay people I'm going to start a thread in the Driver forum.

 

You might have a look at your Hardware Acceleration settings, maybe something changed there. Just a guess.

1. Rightclick the Windows desktop and choose Properties from the popup menu
2. Click the Settings tab and then click Advanced
3. In the next dialog box, click the Troubleshoot tab
4. Under Hardware acceleration, move the slider one notch to the left.
5. Click OK as many times as needed to return to the Desktop.

Steve

 

Mata I don't think I can access that when the problem is occurring... Things really lock up on me....

I can do it now from normal windows mode without the drivers installed.... I guess I could do it in safe mode with the drivers installed... I'm not really sure that's the issue... Has that setting been known to cause people problems like this in the past? I've never messed with that setting so I want to assume whatever it was set on "full", was what it's always been set on....

I appreciate the input....

 

If it's set on full your probably right, the driver issue seems to be your best bet. Good luck.

Steve